Microsoft reportedly debunks always-online Xbox rumors

Microsoft wrangles in some Durango ditties

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Microsoft seems to have done a 180 on the always-on Xbox 720 rumors, finally indicating that the new Xbox won't require a constant internet connection to play games and watch movies, however inadvertently.

"Durango [the codename for the next Xbox] is designed to deliver the future of entertainment while engineered to be tolerant of today's Internet," said a Microsoft email to its employees, according to Ars Technica.

"There are a number of scenarios that our users expect to work without an internet connection, and those should 'just work' regardless of their current connection status."

The internal email goes on to list some of those scenarios, like "playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single player game."

Blu-ray, DVR capabilities confirmed?

This is good news for households with spotty internet speeds, one of the many reasons why an always-online Xbox 720 requirement would be a terrible idea.

The internal email, if authentic, would confirm that the new Xbox is destined to have a Blu-ray player capable of watching high-definition movies and include an HDMI input for cable passthrough.